Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) comic books 1963-1965

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 104 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4375737008

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. First appearance of Paste-Pot Pete (later called the Trapster) in "Paste-Pot Pete!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Human Torch stops Paste-Pot Pete from stealing an experimental missile from the military. "Venus!" text story. "Markham's Magic Crayon!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Paul Reinman; A greedy factory owner fires a worker who claims to have made a magic crayon; He finds that the crayon really is magic, giving him the ability to draw fabulously. "The Frog-Man!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; An evil king is turned into a frog by a sorcerer; He hibernates for centuries hoping that the future will hold a cure, but Halloween costumes make him think that humans are now giant frogs and he goes to sleep forever. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 109 GD/VG 3.0

Water damage.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. The Human Torch stars in "The Sorcerer and Pandora's Box," script by Stan Lee (plot) and Robert Bernstein [as R. Berns] (script), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; The Human Torch fights a sorcerer that unleashes the evils imprisoned in Pandoras Box for his own profit; Fantastic Four guest appearance. "The Comic" text story. "Earth Is Off-Limits!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; Space explorers discover life on a far off planet, but mission control panics at the thought of alien germs loose on Earth and so forbids them to return. "Time Was...", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Sol Brodsky; A scientist builds a time machine and travels to prehistoric times; When he kills an attacking caveman he unknowingly kills his own human ancestor, meaning that he becomes a Neanderthal. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 115 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white

Label #1362288007

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. Dr. Strange's 4th appearance finally provides his origin in "The Origin of Dr. Strange," script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Steve Ditko (co-plot, un-credited), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Stephen Strange, a top neurosurgeon, damages his hands in an accident and seeks out a mystic for help; He saves the seer from his treacherous student, becoming his pupil and finding a new purpose; First mentions of Dormammu and the All-Seeing Agamotto (though no actual appearances). Baron Mordo appearance. Second appearance (and brief origin) of the Sandman in "The Sandman Strikes!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; The Human Torch fights and defeats Spider-Mans old enemy Sandman. "Zero of Time" text story. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 125 GD/VG 3.0

Cover oxidation.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Sub-Mariner Must Be Stopped!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Paul Reinman; Ben and Johnny's hi-jinks are interrupted by the arrival of a pair of LIFE Magazine reporters, who are there to interview Reed and Sue; When the news reports Sub-Mariner is heading for NYC, Ben and Johnny figure they can make an impression by tackling him on their own. "Mordo Must Not Catch Me!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), pencils by Steve Ditko, inks by George Roussos (as Geo. Bell); Three followers of Mordo attack Strange in his sanctum; After dispatching them, he uses the Eye of Agamotto and his amulet to contact his mentor, but to no avail!; Mordo appears saying he's captured The Ancient One; In their ectoplasmic forms, a running battle begins that takes them halfway around the world, until Strange locates his mentor in a half-hidden jungle somewhere in Tibet. First page of a 2-page text story, "The Message." (The second page does not appear in issue 126 and may never have been published!) 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 127 VG/FN 5.0

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko (inset), inks by Chic Stone and Steve Ditko (inset). The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Mystery Villain!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue) and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Paul Reinman; Following a race, Ben and Johnny complain to Reed that they've done pretty good and don't need a leader; Reed tells them they're free to work on their own; Ben and Johnny take part in a high-speed race, but discover on arrival that they're the only two contestants; Sub-Mariner cameo. "Duel with the Dread Dormammu!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; The mysterious girl appears and takes Strange to The Mindless Ones, destructive creatures who are held back from killing by Dormammu's willpower; Dormammu imprisons the girl for betraying him and the battle begins; With Dormammu concentrating on defeating his foe the barrier holding The Mindless Ones collapses; he is forced to join forces with Strange to stop them; Guest starring Clea; Dr. Strange receives his amulet and red-and-yellow cloak of levitation from the Ancient One. A Marvel Masterwork Pin-Up of The Thing, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. 36 pgs., full color. NOTE: 2nd appearance of Dormammu and Clea. 1st appearance of The Eye of Agamotto and Cloak of Levitation. 1st battle between Doctor Strange and Dormammu. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 128 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4061040016

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky. The Human Torch and the Thing guest star in "Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch," script by Stan Lee and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray); Quicksilver wants to leave Magneto's group but his sister Wanda reminds him that she is in his debt; The Scarlet Witch takes her brother's lead and they seek out the Fantastic Four for advice; They encounter Ben and Johnny at FF headquarters where a misunderstanding turns into a brawl; Cameos by the X-Men (Angel, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Iceman), Magneto, the Mastermind, the Blob, and the Yancy Street Gang. Dr. Strange Master of the Mystic Arts illustration by Steve Ditko. "The Demon's Disciple!", script by Steve Ditko (plot, uncredited) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Strange receives a desperate plea for help from a man who became a disciple of someone called The Demon, not realizing the seriousness of the situation; The Demon transports the man back to his lair and consigns him to a pit beneath the floor; Strange tracks the man's location and confronts the evil mystic in an epic battle. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 128 GD/VG 3.0

Sticker residue on front cover. Cover oxidation.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky. The Human Torch and the Thing guest star in "Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch," script by Stan Lee and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray); Quicksilver wants to leave Magneto's group but his sister Wanda reminds him that she is in his debt; The Scarlet Witch takes her brother's lead and they seek out the Fantastic Four for advice; They encounter Ben and Johnny at FF headquarters where a misunderstanding turns into a brawl; Cameos by the X-Men (Angel, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Iceman), Magneto, the Mastermind, the Blob, and the Yancy Street Gang. Dr. Strange Master of the Mystic Arts illustration by Steve Ditko. "The Demon's Disciple!", script by Steve Ditko (plot, uncredited) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Strange receives a desperate plea for help from a man who became a disciple of someone called The Demon, not realizing the seriousness of the situation; The Demon transports the man back to his lair and consigns him to a pit beneath the floor; Strange tracks the man's location and confronts the evil mystic in an epic battle. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 129 VG+ 4.5

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Terrible Trio!", script by Stan Lee and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frankie Ray); On the golf course, Doris nags Johnny by comparing him to "gentlemanly" Peter Parker; When the latest emergency arises, she says a girl like her should have her head examined; Johnny falls into a trap of The Terrible Trio, but manages to send out a distress signal to Ben, who takes on these losers and saves Johnny's life in a railway yard. "Beware...Tiboro! The Tyrant of the Sixth Dimension!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Don Rico (script), art by Steve Ditko; A panel of three scientists appear on a TV program, rejecting Dr. Strange as an authority on the supernatural and dismiss magic as superstition; When the lights go out the men vanish and Dr. Strange is summoned; He discerns that the idol they dismissed is a gateway to the dimension of Tiboro, a powerful entity set to attack Earth; Strange travels to Tiboro's land and a fierce battle commences. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 133 VG- 3.5

Cover oxidation.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Mike Esposito. The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Terrible Toys!", script by Stan Lee (plot, dialogue) and Bob Powell (plot), pencils by Bob Powell, inks by Mike Esposito (as Mick Demeo); Deciding to switch his M.O., The Puppet Master builds robotic "statues" he can control, and undergoes plastic surgery so no one will recognize him; The masquerade is short-lived, as he lures Johnny & Ben into a trap in a department store. "A Nameless Land, a Timeless Time!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; After escaping from Mordo, Strange plummets thru dimension after dimension, finally coming to a stop in a world ruled by Shazana, a female tyrant who once conned a wizard into giving her some of his powers, which she repaid by destroying him; Believing her sister has recruited Strange to overthrow her she battles Strange into submission; Appearances by Clea, Dormammu, and Baron Mordo. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 134 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Slab: Paper flake(s) in case

Label #4359672018

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Frank Giacoia. The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Challenge of...The Watcher!", script by Stan Lee and Bob Powell (co-plot), pencils by Bob Powell, inks by Wally Wood; Though he is not permitted to interfere, The Watcher tells Ben & Johnny of how Kang time-travelled to the days of King Arthur, imprisoned Merlin, and took over the country; In order for the time stream to remain intact, The Watcher sends the pair back in time to defeat Kang; Cameos by Sue Storm and Reed Richards. "Earth Be My Battleground," script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Strange returns to earth but remains in hiding. Mordo's spirits discover Strange and pursue him; Meanwhile Clea distracts Dormammu by freeing The Mindless Ones; They attack, causing Dormammu to leave Mordo on his own. Strange flies into space and straight into the sun, the spirits fleeing and Mordo worried that it might spell his doom; Strange returns to The Ancient One, who in his weak, delirious condition, speaks of "Eternity"; Appearance by Clea. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 138 CGC 8.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4064961007

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by John Severin. "Sometimes the Good Guys Lose!", script by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (co-plot), pencils by Jack Kirby (layouts) and John Severin, inks by John Severin; Aboard SHIELD's Intercontinental Ballistic Plane Fury uses the Televiewer Tube to locate the Betraton Bomb launch site; It is destroyed but the bomb was already launched; Agent G unsuccessfully implores her father, Imperial Hydra to come to his senses; He sends HYDRA's Fox Division to deliver his terms to every nation on Earth; Tony Stark prepares to show Fury the Braino-Saur,a new weapon when HYDRA agents capture him. "If Eternity Should Fail!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; In another dimension that defies description, Dr. Strange comes face-to-face with Eternity, who learns that Strange is indeed worthy of The Ancient One's trust; He knows that if Mordo & Dormammu are not stopped, all mankind will be in jeopardy; But after all Strange has been through, Eternity tells him he already has the power he needs; First appearance of Eternity; Appearance by Clea. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.